TechCrunch added fuel to the fire by tossing on speculation that Facebook will be unveiling a new Messenger for iPad app. But if that proves to be true, it feels like a pretty lame reason to invite the tech press to Menlo Park. Ultimately, no definitive word yet if Zuckerberg will claim the Jobsian "one more thing" mantle.

If you have any thoughts, idle speculation, or unverified gossip as to what Facebook will announce, you know where the comments are. Ars will be there in person with a liveblog—brought to you by yours truly and photographer Florence Ion. The event will begin Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 10:00am PST (find it in your timezone), so bookmark this page and join us then. (Fingers crossed that we're getting a Social Network sequel.)

Promoted Comments

I am guessing its a new messenger platform, but maybe much larger in scope than what people are expecting.

I think this is the most plausible idea I've heard so far. Facebook's massive user count turns into one big, big contact book, and thus an at least as huge advantage when it comes to messaging and VoIP. If they build a simple interface for such an app with messaging both via text, images, and real-time video/audio as you suggest, this could be a winner.

Not only is this among the best ways for Facebook to leverage their billion-sized user base, but it's also working very well together with Facebook's recent confirmations that mobile is the future. And in still another way... Facebook's experience in providing messaging and live chat features. They're becoming veterans here.

I definitely do NOT think that with "mobile", Facebook means "our own mobile phone". That actually sounds more stupid the more I think about it.

It is really hard to have a surprise announcement of a phone because you need hardware partners. The exact features and specs of a phone can be a surprise, but the phone itself is almost always known about beforehand.

Facebook is already fairly integrated into existing phones. I can see Facebook releasing their own phone that uses Facebook messaging by default to route more of your data through their grubby paws, but I don't see how that is an advantage for users in any way.

I am guessing its a new messenger platform, but maybe much larger in scope than what people are expecting. I am thinking something along the lines of Facebook and Skype, blended together. So you would get IM, video, audio, file xfer etc.. all through facebook via your friends list. It becomes the sole form of communcation between people who use facebook, and eats into the use of services from google, apple, microsoft, and others. This would help a ton in driving more revenue via ads and usage.

Of course that is just my guess. A facebook phone is just silly, so I can't see that happening.

I am guessing its a new messenger platform, but maybe much larger in scope than what people are expecting.

I think this is the most plausible idea I've heard so far. Facebook's massive user count turns into one big, big contact book, and thus an at least as huge advantage when it comes to messaging and VoIP. If they build a simple interface for such an app with messaging both via text, images, and real-time video/audio as you suggest, this could be a winner.

Not only is this among the best ways for Facebook to leverage their billion-sized user base, but it's also working very well together with Facebook's recent confirmations that mobile is the future. And in still another way... Facebook's experience in providing messaging and live chat features. They're becoming veterans here.

I definitely do NOT think that with "mobile", Facebook means "our own mobile phone". That actually sounds more stupid the more I think about it.

Zuckerberg announces that he is taking over the West Coast, to the continental divide. He'll expect zero resistance, otherwise he will release those photos of you that you posted when you were drunk, but thought that you had deleted the next morning (insert evil laugh and "you pitiful fools, thinking that you could delete anything!"). He will then leave the stage and a half hour later check-in from his secret volcano base.

Zuckerberg announces that he is taking over the West Coast, to the continental divide. He'll expect zero resistance, otherwise he will release those photos of you that you posted when you were drunk, but thought that you had deleted the next morning (insert evil laugh and "you pitiful fools, thinking that you could delete anything!"). He will then leave the stage and a half hour later check-in from his secret volcano base.

So who's going to volunteer to join his army of eager, but incompetent, minions? Colorful jumpsuits are free.

I am guessing its a new messenger platform, but maybe much larger in scope than what people are expecting.

I think this is the most plausible idea I've heard so far. Facebook's massive user count turns into one big, big contact book,

Very good point. I think a few years ago, a FB phone might have been a very good idea, but now, not so much. However, FB can still try and be on all phones, and become the central personal communications platform for all users. Basically, if you want to communicate with anyone you know, either via voice, instant message, delayed message, video, etc., you go to your phone's FB app, instead of your phone's Messages, Phone, FaceTime apps. That should be FB's goal.

Another thing that we potentially might see (although, I think this is a longshot) is FB building in better corporate features. They could also provide excellent Corporate Directory services, along with great intra-company communications, and groupware, kinda the way Google+ half heartedly adds to Google Docs, Google Talk, GMail, etc. But I really doubt FB goes in that direction because corporate doesnt seem to be in their DNA.

Zuckerberg announces that he is taking over the West Coast, to the continental divide. He'll expect zero resistance, otherwise he will release those photos of you that you posted when you were drunk, but thought that you had deleted the next morning (insert evil laugh and "you pitiful fools, thinking that you could delete anything!"). He will then leave the stage and a half hour later check-in from his secret volcano base.

Yeah, because Larry Page knows nothing about you...

The only difference between Facebook is that with Facebook you and your friends view the private data you voluntarily provide, while with google, advertisers do.

Basically, FB isn't taking away any more privacy than Google/Yahoo/Bing, etc. do. It's just that the nature of their product means that you are exposed to the privacy you are losing in a far more obvious manner in FB than on those other sites.

In fact, I am sure Google can provide scarier threats with the Web search, Image search, Maps, data that they have on me than anything FB could.

Zuckerberg announces that he is taking over the West Coast, to the continental divide. He'll expect zero resistance, otherwise he will release those photos of you that you posted when you were drunk, but thought that you had deleted the next morning (insert evil laugh and "you pitiful fools, thinking that you could delete anything!"). He will then leave the stage and a half hour later check-in from his secret volcano base.

So who's going to volunteer to join his army of eager, but incompetent, minions? Colorful jumpsuits are free.

Have you seen Zuckerberg in public? It would be more like:

"He will then wait a few minutes too long for social comfort and awkwardly shuffle off stage"

Zuckerberg announces that he is taking over the West Coast, to the continental divide. He'll expect zero resistance, otherwise he will release those photos of you that you posted when you were drunk, but thought that you had deleted the next morning (insert evil laugh and "you pitiful fools, thinking that you could delete anything!"). He will then leave the stage and a half hour later check-in from his secret volcano base.

Yeah, because Larry Page knows nothing about you...

The only difference between Facebook is that with Facebook you and your friends view the private data you voluntarily provide, while with google, advertisers do.

Basically, FB isn't taking away any more privacy than Google/Yahoo/Bing, etc. do. It's just that the nature of their product means that you are exposed to the privacy you are losing in a far more obvious manner in FB than on those other sites.

In fact, I am sure Google can provide scarier threats with the Web search, Image search, Maps, data that they have on me than anything FB could.

FB data is seen by your friends AND the advertisers. So in addition to the same privacy violations as other web giants, just add your friends to it too, and the fact that, oh dunno, Facebook has your real identity while other web giants (typically) do not. You are just a number to Google, unless you log into your account, and give them your real name, and then you google for porn, or local pot grower, or highly enriched uranium.

So who's going to volunteer to join his army of eager, but incompetent, minions? Colorful jumpsuits are free.

Already taken care of. You don't think that it actually takes several thousand people to run that site, do you? They've had 5 people running that thing for years. The rest have been in minion training. And yes, the jumpsuits are in "Facebook Blue"

arcadium wrote:

Yeah, because Larry Page knows nothing about you... (and other stuff)

Lighten up Francis. I try to pump Zuckerberg up as a Bond (or Austin Powers) super-villain, and you go off on a rant about privacy.

Zuckerberg announces that he is taking over the West Coast, to the continental divide. He'll expect zero resistance, otherwise he will release those photos of you that you posted when you were drunk, but thought that you had deleted the next morning (insert evil laugh and "you pitiful fools, thinking that you could delete anything!"). He will then leave the stage and a half hour later check-in from his secret volcano base.

If they were being honest (fat chance of that), they would announce what we all know to be true already; there is no privacy on Facebook and all of your information, given intentionally or inferred indirectly, is being sold to try and keep a vastly over-valued company's shares from tanking.

Zuck will spend an hour going over numbers to talk about how "great" Facebook is, and then they'll announce something else that every narcissist can share that we haven't thought of already, which will make the rest of us cringe. What that will be is the matter to speculate - maybe it will be a barcode scanner in the mobile app for everybody who thinks the entire world should know what products they use.